WEEK 1 - SISTER GILLETT

Hey Family!!

How are things going at home? How did the move to the 4th house go? All finished unpacking yet... haha jk! What is new with the family?

Well, things have been going pretty great here at the MTC. Definitely a life changing experience for me. I love my district. my teachers, my companion, and my investigators. THe Elders in my district are going to the Iowas Des Moines mission and the 4 sisters are going to the Anaheim mission. Adjusting to the 6 am to 1030 pm has been a challenge for me a little bit but I will survive!! Having class/ study time for 16 hours a day is really rough but I have learned and I have grown so much already. It is crazy to think I have only been here a week and I love it so much but I am ready to head out! Good thing I only have 12 days in the MTC!! Woohoo!!

I will fly out on the 8th at 830 am. They have assigned me to be the travel leader over 6 sisters heading to anaheim. That is kinda a scary thought for me. Hopefully we are all on the plane when it is ready to take off!! haha 

So, the second day Sister Maloy got really sick and so I had to take her up to the health clinic at main campus. They decided to keep her there to let her rest and they gave me a cell phone for a companion for about 8 hours and then told me to come pick her back up around 5. I felt so lonely and everyone was like sister, where is your companion. You do know you aren't suppose to go anywhere without your companion right? It was good to have her back and we spent the night at the apt resting and then the next few days we would do what she felt up to doing. After that it was a roller coaster for her deciding whether or not she wanted to stay. She called he family and met wiht the district president. He told her to stick it out til sunday and she would receive her answer. when she did, she didnt even have to tell me because I could feel it! I knew she was going to stick it out and be the best missionary that she can be from here on out. I sure love her for that. We definitley grew as a companionship through that experience and it really taught me some patience! It was also a tender mercy for me to go to the clinic with her because the sweet nurse talking to me noticed my medical braclet and she gave me some stuff that i needed to take care of my diabetes and who I should talk to at the West Campus cafeteria. It was really nice!! 

So, a little bit about the west campus. We live in the Wyview apts and our classroom is at the raintree apts in an old bedroom. it is really interesting but I absolutely love it here. however I am grateful it was only cold for a few days because walking back and forth between our apt and class it was so cold. All the snow has melted off the mountains and the leaves are changing colors. it is so beautiful. It always makes me sing for the beauty of the earth! Love that song!! 

Dad, I definitly agree that going on a mission is like the roller coaster at lagoon! I absolutely love it now that I am here and I wouldnt change it for anything!! Everyone is so spiritual and everyone shows Christlike love to all they are with. One of our goals is to be the happiest district at the MTC. We have definitely lived up to it and I absolutely love being happy and laughing with others!! The food here is pretty great, i defintitely dont complain! I love the fruit and salad bar they have because that helps me to continue to eat healthy! 

Are you guys ready for conference because I am SO EXCITED!! Last night we had out tuesday night devotional and Elder Baxter of the 70 came and talked to us. He did an amazing job and I love his English accent. We even got to go up to the main campus for it instread of watching the broadcast in the chapel at west campus. It gave me cold chills to sing Called to Serve with all the other missionaries.

Mom, so about that picture that Sister Barton showed you. That is her son Alex and he just coincidentally happened to be subbing for a zone teaching conference we had the other day. I saw that his name was brother barton and so I asked him where he was from. He just said Central Utah in a place called Manti. I said is Audrey your sister? He was so confused because I had never met him before but I had seen pictures of him so I knew who he was. So we got a picture together and I told him to send it to his mom so that she could show it to you. Hope that you enjoyed it. I also met a girl, Sister Gillepsie. She said that her grandpa lives in Manti in the 8th ward. do you know him? There is also a girl here from Paradise Utah named Sister Richman. She said that her brother got his patriarchal blessing from Grandpa. Cool huh? I have also seen Kelsey Mecham, Joe Creery and Jaelyn's old roommate KO. It was really fun to see all of them and make so many different connections. Oh, and today in the cafeteria I met a worker there who had cousin Ryan in her ward last semester. Small world huh? OH and thanks for all your sweet notes in my suitcase. Especially the one from JoLee!!  JoLee, will you please write sister maloy a dear elder cuz she hasnt gotten any mail yet!

Thanks for all the letters and everything. Please keep them coming!! The first night we got mail it was like that scene from the best two years when all the mail is for the one elder. But in this case it was all for me. a few of the other missionaries had one or two letters but I had the most. It was so AWESOME!!! 

Could you please dearelder me Staci's address so that i can write her family. She sent me a package from the BYU bookstore but it didnt have a return address on it. Thanks for giving my address info to Carol. It was great to hear from her. 

 sorry this letter is so scattered I am trying to remember all I have done this week it is so hard to narrow it down to just a few things. 

Thanks for all your love and support. I sent a letter home to you guys this morning so hopefully you will get it soon. I am grateful for the wonderful examples you guys are to me and for the opportunity that I have to share the gospel. I love this gospel and I know that this is the only true church ont he earth today. I cant wait to share it with all the people of California. I love my savior and I am grateful for his atoning sacrifice. I know that this gospel blesses the lives of all who listen. Please remember to share the gospel with every one becuase Heavenly Father loves all his children and wants them to be happy. This gospel brings true happiness!! I know it, I live it and I love it with all my heart might mind and strength!! Love you lots!! 

love, Sister Gillett

TWO THUMBS UP! YEAH!